Between June 9 and 13, political leaders, scientists and activists will star in a round of meetings and negotiations with Reason for the third summit by the oceans organized by the United Nations, better known as UNOC3.
Host in the coastal city of Nice, in the French south, the oceanic summit fulfills its third edition, with a history in New York (2017) and Lisbon (2022), and is part of the efforts of the most important multilateral organism on the planet to combat the climatic crisis and influence the protection of ecosystems.
The meeting will have the presence of 56 heads of state and government who will attend the appointment from different latitudes of the world. Emmanuel Macron will be the president and will tell CO9N the presence of standards of the climatic struggle in Latin America, such as the Brazilian Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, together with figures such as the president of the Spanish Government, Pedro Sánchez, or that of Costa Rica, Rodrigo Chaves, who is coanfitrion of the event.
UNOC3 in Nice
Half a hundred international leaders and about 10,000 people attend from Monday until Friday 13 to Third United Nations Conference on Oceans (UNOC3), which is celebrated in the French city of Nice.
The meeting aims to “support new urgent measures to conserve and sustainably use the oceans »according to the UN, and will address issues such as health, financing, protection and sustainable development of marine ecosystems.
Los Oceans They are both great allies in the fight against climate changefor its role as carbon dioxide sinks, and also victims of this phenomenon, which has led to an increase in temperature and the acidification of these ecosystems, with serious consequences for marine biodiversity and for its role as planetary thermoregulator
Trump does not attend
At the conference, coorganized by Costa Rica and France, leaders such as the French president participate, Emmanuel Macron, the Brazilian, Lula da Silvaor the head of the Spanish Executive, Pedro Sánchez, while among the absences stands out that of the United States.
The US administration of Donald Trump has not sent any member of its executive and will be represented by two government observers who advise Trump on the environment, to the Be contrary to the objects of the UN Development Agenda by 2030, according to official sources in the country.
He Washington disinterest in UNOC3 differs from the position of the second world power, Chinawhich sent its vice president, Han Zheng, and even that of Argentina, which has its president Javier Milei – Trump’s alienated and climate denial – as a maximum representation.
Many of the participants are expected to announce voluntary commitments related to trade, maritime transport or tourism. Besides, At the end of the meeting a political statement will be published, although it will not be legally bindingas it happens for example with some of the results of other United Nations conferences such as climate (COP). Of course, it will contribute to mark the tone of the global ambition on this issue.
Objective: 30% of the oceans
As for more concrete aspects, Negotiators work for more countries to ratify the high seas treaty, approved in 2023 and destined to protect marine life in international waters. Specifically, the text calls to declare protected areas 30% of the high seas – International Guards located more than 200 sea miles from the coast – before 2030.
Although 115 countries have signed it, Only 22 have ratified it so far – among them Spain last February, the first European country to do so. The figure is well below the 60s necessary to enter into force. Experts claim that it is key to fulfilling the world of safeguarding 30% of the ocean for 2030.
The real figure of protected areas is far from this number, according to a study published by several NGOs on June 5. Only 8.6% of Oceans is considered protected, and only 2.7% are evaluated and is considered effectively protected.
Therefore, the United Nations Secretary General, António Guterres, has called for expanding the number of countries that ratify the treaty. «The ocean is the shared resource par excellence. But we are failing us », He has warned at the beginning of the conference.
Guterres has warned that human activity is destroying oceanic ecosystems. Illegal fishing, plastic pollution and the increase in sea temperature caused by global warming They are threatening the delicate ecosystems and people who depend on them, He has warned.